We are thinking about staying a week at Maho Sonesta. It's all inclusive now. Any feedback would be appreciated.

I guess if you don't have an issue with paying for meals outside the resort it would be ok. I for one like to go to lunch and dinner spots and if I have the thoughts that I already paid for those meals/ drinks then it would be double dipping.
I haven't seen many reviews here on the food.

There are too many great restaurants on the island to limit your choices to those associated with the hotel. Personally I wouldn't do the all inclusive thing.

My opinion is no for all inclusive. But, it's just MY opinion. Know that there are so many great restaurants on the Island and weigh your decision. It may be just what you like.

This is one island where I would NOT take AI. Keep checking for vacancies in other places and unless there's nothing else then take Sonesta. Decide if you want to be in a place where you can walk to everything or try a place a little more secluded and rent a car.

We alternate Dutch side places and rent a car with following year French side Grand Case with lots of shops & restaurants and no car.

Our first visit to SXM we stayed at Great Bay Hotel, now Sonesta Great bay and took an all incl. and found it to be a big mistake. Once we discovered all the great food around we didn't use our plan except for breakfast and felt like we'd spent more on hotel than was necessary.

I don't know much about Sonesta but we LOVE Maho! With that said we have never done ai as like others have said there are too many dining choices we want/like to explore! Some of the excursions we do include a meal. If you are ok with skipping some meals to go out exploring, then go for it!

We've stayed at the Sonesta Maho, our 1st trip to SXM was there. My opinion, if it's your 1st time, maybe just a wk or 10 days, sure. I would use it as starting point to get out explore. rent a car for all or part of your stay. Make it a point to get around. So what if you pay for lunch out and the odd dinner - a Moulin Fou dinner across the road for sure. It would be a great starting point to learn more and come back again and that time stay somewhere you discovered on this trip.

J&B

Note you thru me for a loop when you said it's AI now, thought it always was, but then I remembered when we stayed guests had different col wrist bands - I asked and they delinated the trip plan, WestJet for ex did not do AI, Airtransat did, someone else did modified AI etc. - however it's been AI only for several yrs.

Johnandbev,

I certainly don't advocate making this island, of all of them, an AI destination, but like you, IF if it's the OPs first visit and/or IF it's a great price, I wouldn't hesitate to go for it.

Sometimes the AI packages are actually equal or very close to booking your air and hotel seperately and just because you've booked it as AI, there's no law saying you have to take every meal there.

Maho is a nice hotel, particularly if you want a relaxing vacation without needing to worry about cars and taxis. You're able to walk out your door and easily enjoy all of the Maho area on foot...... Casinos, nightclubs, ice cream shops and shopping in general without the need or the worry of a vehical.

Our very first trip to St. Maarten a long time ago was basically an AI trip but that didn't cause us to be married to our resort, typically enjoying breakfast there every day, lunches wherever we happened to be, and some dinners there and some not.

Personally speaking, I think I'd plan the trip both ways - AI at Maho and as an independent trip wherever and do the numbers and see where they fall and then make my decision. If you're of the type who's content to pretty much stay in one place then it might be a great choice. If you're of a mindset to want to be out and about exploring ALL of the island, then maybe not such a great idea. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

It appears, according to this post, that it is not the poster's first trip to SXM.

Not sure if the original poster is specifically looking for a/i or perhaps somewhere in Maho, in particular?

I thought I recognized the screen name and perhaps they'll return and elaborate as to what they were looking for.

But I will reiterate, while not for most of us, there are people who really enjoy an AI vacation destination, and if the price is right, you can have the best of both worlds that way. Over the years I've spoken to a few Canadians who have paid almost the same for Sonesta AI as we've paid for air only. It all depends on the package price and inclusions, IMO.

And a major surprise to me, I've met people who have actually stayed at the Towers for an entire week and never wanted to hit the beautiful island beaches and were content to eat in their suites for most of their meals over most of their week. We don't have a restaurant on site and they were fine with eating in and just going back and forth to the pool. It's all about what makes you happy, and while this would NEVER work for me, I do get that some are fine with it. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Hello! Yes. We have been to SXM many, many times. We were frightened away by the hold up at 8 p.m. by a previous poster. We had plans to come back next week. We actually changed our plans to go to Aruba...but were not excited about going there again. So...we thought if we stayed at Maho and rented our car from Kenny's (as always)
and drove around in morning and afternoon we would be safer. I wonder how we do not all inclusive there?

Not a hundred percent certain but I don't think it's an option to NOT do AI at Sonesta Maho these days. You could try to book something at LaTerrasse or Royal Islander timeshare resorts, both of which are right there in the same location and you'd still have the benefit of walking around Maho at night and the freedom to enjoy the island at your leisure during the day. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

As timeshare owners at the Royal Islander LaPlage next door to the Sonesta, we can definitely say that if you can book something at LaPlage, it's a lovely non-AI option. Right in Maho village area, next to the Casino and restaurants, like Cheri's Cafe, etc. LaPlage has beautiful grounds and recently-updated units. The units have full kitchens, and there are many with separate bedrooms as well. And rent a car to go to all the wonderful beaches and beach-side restaurants. The pool is being renovated between August and the first week of October, this year, so take that into account. Best of luck for a great vacation on St. Maarten !!!

Thank you again! This is what we were wondering?! Where else in Maho we could stay... The pool is important to us for a little of the day. Is it under renovation at LaTerrasse also?

No, the pool as La Terrasse will be open as usual.

Are you trying to go next week? Or in the future? There is a Rental site for The Royal Islander. Royal Islander Classifieds

I just came back from an AI wedding in Cancun and will never voluntarily go to AI.Its all you can eat of mediocre food for the most part.Of all places SXM is not a place to go for AI.

Kind of hard to generalize an AI in Cancun to all AI resorts. I am definitely NOT an AI person but went to a wedding in the DR and the restaurants were fantastic...as was the drinks and everything else..we never left the resort..certain areas are more AI appropriate than others. i would NOT consider SXM as AI appropriate

We will be there in 2 weeks. We don't want the AI but we wanted to stay at Maho this time. We always stayed on the French side and we are hesitant about driving around after dark now.

If that's the case, I would contact Royal Islander and see when the pool construction will start. Get a price direct from them and also take a peak at the website I posted in my previous comment and see what they have. There are no week 34's available on the website but some nice units in week 35, may be overkill for 2 people but nice balcony off bedroom, which 1 bedrooms don't have.

Thanks Kim. I just emailed them at Royal Islander to see what might be available.

I have to say that Maho is not the ONLY option, if you don't want to drive at night.. Royal Palm, Flamingo, Atrium, Simpson Bay Resort, LaVista and LaVista Beach, all have a TON of rooms where you don't have to drive around at night.... And this time of year, should be lots of timeshare units available there at those various resorts... Check out the FAQ section here on TTOL, with listings to the timeshare owner's sites, with lots of rental potential.